With off-beat films like AAMIR, NO ONE KILLED JESSICA, A WEDNESDAY, FUKREY and SPECIAL 26 etc. succeeding at the turnstile, it seems that the Indian audience has surely matured and so even directors and makers who are into hardcore commercial cinema are now experimenting with newer subjects. .

D-DAY, a film with an ensemble star cast comprising of the likes of Rishi, Irrfan, Arjun and Shruti appears to be one such film. Directed by Nikhil Advani who takes a departure from his usual candy floss romance to hard core off beat action cinema, the music is as always entrusted to his favourite trio after SALAAM-E-ISHQ, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and lyrics by Niranjan Iyengar (a Karan Johar regular). The trio have just come up with a superlative score in BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG and one expects some more classy stuff from them. Let's turn on the play button and check out their latest offering.

The first on the block is ''Duma Dum'' and Mika Singh is a surprise choice for this evergreen hugely popular 'sufi' number that has been made immortal by the likes of the legendary Abida Parveen and Runa Laila. Mika needs to be commended as he does well and gives the number that required enthu and zeal as also his twists. He is accompanied by Mani Mhadevan, Gaurav Gupta, Devendra Chitnis and Arun Ingle. S-E-L refurbish the number with today's musical arrangements but the immortal tune remains unchanged and that is the USP of the track. Lyrics too are modified to fit into the situational needs of the film.

''Mera Murshid Khele Holi'' is a classy effort by the trio, an all traditional 'sufi' qawwali, the sort that is heard at various shrines/'dargahs' and is certainly the best track of the album. Various Hindustani musical instruments like harmonium, 'tabla' and 'sitar' as well as 'baansuri' (flute) add to the charm. A host of artists like Munawwar Masoom, Javed Ali, Shankar Mahadevan, Rajeev Sundresan, Mani Mahadevan and Raman Mahadevan render this number with e'lan.

The classy 'qawwali' is followed by the even classier 'ghazal' , ''Ek Ghadi Aur'' and is rendered to perfection by Rekha Bhardwaj. Through this superb composition, S-E-L give the audience a chance to savour the delights of the unadulterated and surreal 'ghazal' experience that 'ghazal' lovers all over the world patronize and adore. Lyrics are just excellent.

A soft, slow haunting sad separation situational number, ''Alvida'' is rendered superbly by Shruti Hassan and Nikhil D'Souza with Sukhwinder coming in with the repeated lovely interlude, ''Bairiyaa'' which is the highlight of the track.

''Dhuan'' is another situational number and a sort of ode or 'salaam' to the lead protagonists who gave up their lives in trying to save the country and its people, and who remain forgotten despite their valiant and gallant and patriotic efforts. A host of singers like Rahul Ram, Siddharth Mahadevan, Elyssa Mendonsa etc render the number.

Concluding the album, one complements S-E-L for another classy effort after BHAAG MILKHA MILKHA. They have delivered as per the expectations and songs like, ''Duma Dum', ''Mera Murshid Khele Holi'' and ''Ek Ghadi Aur'' are our picks, and one just hopes for the sake of lovers of classy music that D-DAY too is lapped up and the film garners critical and commercial acclaims when it releases on 19th July.